As Harry and Carter prepared their meal from canned goods, they returned to their original theme. The quest would begin tomorrow. By the next evening success might be theirs. If not, they would keep on.

For somewhere in this locality lay Carter Boswick's heritage. Time and trouble would be no barriers. The quest would not end until success had come.

CHAPTER XIV. FORCES OF CRIME.

HARRY VINCENT'S intuitive sense was by no means a poor one. As darkness closed over the forest, a motion in the brush bore out his belief that a concealed observer had been watching the cabin. But Harry was not at hand to detect the presence of the prowler.

Pushing his way through the lower branches of the trees, a man hurried away from the vicinity of theclearing. After a mile of tramping, he struck a side road through the woods, and came to a spot where an old touring car was parked beside the road.

The man clambered into the automobile. He drove away and reached a better road that pointed toward the Wisconsin border. A lonely ride of a dozen miles brought him to an old road house that was just beyond the outskirts of a small town.

The man alighted from this car and entered the building. His face was revealed in the lighted hall. It was Stacks Lodi.

The newcomer spied a man with a bandaged arm, lounging in a room off the hall. It was Scully. The crippled gangster grinned. He used his left hand to indicate a stairway.

"Room right at the top," he said. "He's in there, Stacks. Waiting for you."

Stacks Lodi ascended the stairs, knocked at the door, and opened the portal when he heard the gruff command to enter. He found Hub Rowley seated at a table, a bottle of liquor close at hand.

"h.e.l.lo, Stacks," growled the big shot. "Have a drink. Tell me what you know."

"I've got Boswick located," said Stacks eagerly. "Him and another guy-"

"Start with the beginning," interrupted Hub impatiently. "I want to know all that happened."

"Didn't Scully tell you?"

"Yes. But I want your story."

"O.K., Hub. Well, when I landed in Junction City, trailing this bird Boswick, the boys were there like I expected. You certainly figured a way to beat Boswick's time, and they picked up the touring car like you suggested.

"I didn't fool around any. Just registered at the Junction House, and went outside to give the cigar signal.

I hung around the lobby. Clerk sent the bell hops home. He and I were there alone, and I figured an easy fight upstairs.

"And then everything broke loose. Sounded like artillery fire. The clerk grabbed a gun and started up. So I plugged him. Then I yanked the sheet out of the hotel register, and threw it in the stove. Best thing to do, Hub. Alibis would have been a mess. I didn't know what the finish would be. I clipped the only bird who knew who I was-and who Boswick was, for that matter."

"All right," agreed Hub. "Go on."

"WHEN I got upstairs," continued Stacks, "I found Scully crawling along the hall. The rest of the mob was dead. I didn't lose any time. I dragged Scully along, and he told me where the car was.

"We ran into luck. Scully had stopped at this place on the way in. He knew it was a speakeasy, and a stop-off joint for bimboes running booze in from Canada. The boss took him to some hick sawbones.

Said he got shot out hunting.

"That's when I wired you in Chicago-to come on here-like you said. Then, along about noon, I headed out to find the location. You had it picked mighty close. Boswick is there already. I don't know who the other bloke is."

"Are they camping on the ground?" queried Hub."No," grinned Stacks. "They're sitting pretty. Found a cabin there. That's why I'm sure they've got the place. I watched them from the woods. They were fooling around what looked like a big well."

"A mine shaft, probably. Did they find anything?"

"Don't think so. Boswick went down the shaft; if he'd been alone, I'd have nailed him then. But the other guy watched. I waited until after they went into the cabin. Then I cut over to the road, where I had parked my car."

"You're sure there's only two of them?"

"That's all."

Hub Rowley was thoughtful. Then, with an angry gesture, he gulped down a gla.s.s of liquor and stared coldly at henchman.

"You know why I'm here?" he questioned.

Stacks shook his head.

"Because," said the big shot, "there's been too much foolishness. This is the third time, Stacks, that you have tried to get one man -Carter Boswick. In every instance, you had men capable of doing the job.

They failed."

"I told you why, chief!" Stacks fairly blurted the words. "It wasn't Boswick that stopped them. I found it out on the boat. It was The Shadow!"

"So you say. But I've got to see the proof. First you claim your men tried to get Boswick at some joint in Havana. That may have been a story they cooked up. You can't prove that The Shadow was there. Your story about the boat sounds possible; but you admit that you had liquored up a bit during the card game.

Then, last night-you didn't see The Shadow at the Junction House, did you?"

"I was downstairs. Ask Scully-he was up above."

"I questioned him. He said you talked about The Shadow. But he didn't see him. Scully says there was a fellow who helped Boswick out -but it wasn't The Shadow."

"Scully don't know all!" protested Stacks. "He was trying to blackjack Boswick, so he says, and the others were covering Boswick's friend. Then somebody plugs him in the wrist."

"The man with Boswick, probably."

"While he was covered by three rods? That don't sound right, Hub. I figure The Shadow was there, too."

"Maybe you're right," growled Hub Rowley. "Just the same, we're going to get that fellow Boswick. If he has another man with him, we'll pick him off, too. This time, I'll be there myself."

"Just you and me-with Scully?"

"Scully!" Hubs voice was contemptuous. "He's crippled. Say-you are a dumb one at times, Stacks. Do you think I've come here alone? I've got Twister downstairs, and a mob all ready. Brought along a gang from Chicago. They aren't here at this dump; but they're near by."

"Say, Hub!" Stacks spoke in an admiring tone. "This will be soft. Those eggs are hanging out in that cabin. If you want to blot them out, it will be easy.""We're blotting them out tonight!"

HUB ROWLEY arose and walked about the room. The big shot was planning. Finally, he turned to Stacks Lodi and delivered his final detail.

"We're starting out at midnight," declared the big shot. "You're going to lead us. Twister and you will boss the mob-under my direction. We'll get that cabin on all sides. I'm waiting now to hear from another man who's interested in this."

Hub paused and studied Stacks thoughtfully. The big shot was recalling the discussion on the night before Stacks left for Chicago. He was trying to remember just how much he had said to Stacks then. At last, Hub decided to go on, but he phrased his words cunningly.

"This is a big lay, Stacks," he said. "I got hold of a man who came out with it and offered to work with me on a split. He needed help on account of Carter Boswick being in the way. Savvy? Well, if we get rid of Boswick, it's clear, but we won't stop now.

"You remember that note that you found under the door of Boswick's house after you got the signal of the blinking light over the front door? That was what I was waiting for. It was swiped from Carter Boswick that night. Well, this fellow that's in the game arranged things so I got it. He's here now-and I'm going to see him tonight.

"He may not go along with us. Maybe he'll hang out at some town near here. At the same time, he may decide to come with me. That's why I'm going in my own car, following the rest of you. This fellow is working with me-on the ground floor. It's his only bet. I'm telling you this, so as you'll know to keep mum. Twister is on the q. t. The Chicago boys don't mean anything."

"All right, Hub," agreed Stacks. "I'm ready. I'll stick downstairs with Scully until I get the word."

Stacks Lodi left the big shot's room and joined Twister and Scully on the floor below. Shortly afterward, Hub Rowley left the road house. It was nearly midnight when a telephone call came for Stacks Lodi. Hub Rowley was on the wire.

"Tell Twister to get in touch with the mob," were Hub's instructions. "He can drive after them in your car.

Line up and wait until I show up in the coupe. That will be the signal to start. Leave Scully there at the joint."

Stacks pa.s.sed the message to Twister. The big shot's bodyguard sauntered forth. Stacks lounged around with Scully until he heard the noise of cars arriving on the road outside. He went out to find three automobiles in a row, his touring car at the head. Twister's hissing call summoned him.

"You lead the way," said the bodyguard. "Drive the first buggy. I'll run the second. Hold it until Hub gets here."

The lights of a coupe appeared while Twister was speaking. The car drew up in back of the procession.

Stacks Lodi clambered into the driver's vacant seat of the touring car up front.

Hub Rowley had arrived; now was the time to start.

FOUR men were in Stacks Lodi's car. The ex-gambler listened to their m.u.f.fled chatter as he drove ahead. Tough, uncouth mobsters recruited from the bad lands of Chicago, these rowdies were a more vicious group than those who had served with Scully last night at the Junction House.

Two more cars-each with its quota of gunmen. These were following now. Stacks Lodi, glancingbehind as he took the first curve in the dirt road, could see the other automobiles taking up the trail. Back at the very end, just starting, was Hub Rowley's coupe.

Stacks Lodi had only a momentary glance at the rearmost automobile. Its lights made it nothing more than a dim shape behind two beaming bulbs. Hence Stacks could not possibly have seen what was happening at the rear of that coupe.

Nor did Hub Rowley, at the wheel of his small car, know what was going on in back of him.

Just as the coupe was starting, a tall shape of blackness shot forward from the dark at the side of the road. The light from the road house dimly revealed a swiftly moving splotch upon the ground.

The red tail light of the coupe seemed to blink as a ma.s.s of darkness covered it; then the light shone crimson again as a lithe form stretched itself upon the closed rear of the car. Not a jolt-not a sound.

Noiseless, a being from the night had come aboard the coupe.

As Hub's car shot forward, the phantom shape remained. A hidden rider, totally invisible upon the back of the last car in the row, was riding forth with the caravan that had set out to deliver a ma.s.s attack upon the cabin in the clearing.

Tonight, Hub Rowley had scoffed at the thought of The Shadow being concerned in the enterprise that centered about Carter Boswick's millions. Hub, perhaps, was of the same opinion now; but his derogatory belief did not alter the actual circ.u.mstances.

The Shadow, master of darkness, had joined the invaders. He, too, was traveling toward the scene of battle. When the attackers struck, The Shadow would be there!

CHAPTER XV. IN THE CLEARING.

"HERE we are."

Stacks Lodi, close beside Hub Rowley, pointed out the cabin from the edge of the clearing. The little building was visible under the pale moonlight. Not a light showed in any of its windows.

Hub Rowley chuckled softly. Stacks Lodi was on one side of him; Twister Edmonds on the other.

Behind them, like a ghostly crew, were the mobsters whom they had brought on this excursion.

"All right," growled Hub, in a low tone. "We'll spread here. You take half of the men, Stacks, and cut over to the right. You, with the other half, Twister, over to the left. Never mind the side toward the hill. If they try to get away up there, they'll be easy meat.

"Spread out and come in from two sides. If they make a break toward the center, we'll be able to cut in on them from two directions. Wait a minute"-Hub paused to survey the scene like a general in a campaign -"I'll follow up in back of your crew, Stacks. They're more likely to scoot out the rear door in a pinch, and that's where you're covering. Besides"-there was a touch of sarcasm in the big shot's tone-"I want to see how you handle things, Stacks. Maybe I'll have a chance to help you out this time."

Stacks Lodi made no reply. In a low, smooth voice, he called for half a dozen men, and these members of the mob separated themselves from the rest. Twister took the others.

Hub watched the two corps start out toward their respective posts. Then, with a final chuckle, the big shot glanced about to make sure that all his men had found a place. For a moment, he fancied that he saw a man still lurking in the darkness. His growl died on his lips when he realized that no one was there.Nevertheless, as Hub trooped after Stacks Lodi's squad, the impression still persisted that he had actually sensed the presence of some one behind him. For a moment, he had a notion to return and investigate, but he decided that it would be useless. He came to the opinion that he must have been deceived by a darkened tree trunk.

HUB ROWLEY had a definite purpose in going with Stacks Lodi's outfit. The big shot intended to direct the advance; not to enter it himself, unless emergency required. He had discussed it briefly with Twister Edmonds, and he knew that his bodyguard would cue the actions of his squad according to those of Stacks Lodi's band.

Hub intended to attack swiftly and effectively. Hence it would be best to start Stacks first, and let Twister act accordingly.

Soon all was prepared. Silent men were crouched at the edge of the clearing. Hub Rowley watched the cabin intently, ready to give the word. Apparently, two sleeping victims would be handled in short order.

But within that cabin, only one man slept. Carter Boswick was stretched out upon the floor in the central room. Harry Vincent was sitting in the darkness, vigilant, his ears alert for any intruding sound.

"Ps-s-t!"

Harry's warning hiss awakened Carter in an instant. The young man groped his way toward The Shadow's agent. Harry gave another hiss for silence.

"Just thought I heard something," he whispered. "Listen! Maybe it will begin again."

Carter listened. He gripped Harry's arm.

"There's some one outside the cabin," be said, in a low tone. "I can't figure which side it is."

"Come on," replied Harry. "Crawl to the front door. Open it softly. We'll peek out there, and we can creep around the cabin in opposite directions Whoever it is, we'll find him."

"Maybe it's"-Carter hesitated-"maybe the one who sent you here."

Harry's grunt was negative. Well did Harry know that The Shadow, when he approached a place, moved with velvet silence. He was positive that some prowler had caused the sound, unless a roving animal of the woods might be responsible.

The door opened under Harry's touch. Both men peered out. Lying close to the floor, they had partially emerged, when Harry suddenly clutched Carter's arm with a desperate grip.

"Look there!"